Process and apparatus for manufacturing paper cups



Jan. 21,1936. A. NOVICK PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS 14 sheets-Shea 1 mmvrqx 0am Afar/cm Origina} Filed Jan. 11, 1930 9 AITORNEYS Jan. 21, 193 6. Y ov cK 2,028,163

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11 1950 14 sheets-sheet 2 Jan. 21,1936. v A.NOVICK 2,028,163

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS .Original Filed Jan. 11, 1930 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR Ahrdham Nor/ck.

A TTORNEYS A. NOVICK Jan. 21, 1936.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original-Filed Jain. 11. 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR Aha/1am Nov/CA.

7 A TTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1936. A. NOVICK 2,028,163 I PROCESS AND APPARATU FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11, 1930 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Abra/7am IVOV/C/fl ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1936. A. NOVICK 2,028,163

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11, 1930 14 Sheet-Sheet 6' my A I09 INVENIOR Aha/7am /vow c/r.

BY %1z@a 7 ArmRNEYs I A. NOVICK Jan. 21, 1936.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11, 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 \INVENTQR Abra/mm A awc/r. %9

ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1936. I I A. NOVICK 2,028,163

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11, 1950 14 sheets-sheet 8 INVENIOR Abra/74m Nowc/r.

"f QMWM A ITORNEYS A. NOVICK Jan. 21, 1936.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11, 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 A ITORNEYS Jan. 21, 1936. A. NOVICK 2,028,163

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan ll,'1930 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR Abra/2am NOV/Cl).

A TI'ORNEYS A. NOVICK Jan. 21, 1936.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Fjiled Jan. 11, 1930 14 Sheets-Sheet '11 IN VENT OR Abrqkam Nov/ck. BY A 2%;- V

ATTORNEYS A. NOVICK Jan; 21 1936.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS 14 Sheets-Shet 12 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1950 v INvE19'T0R Abra/2am Nowc/r. 1 BY AITQRNEYS Jan. 21, 1936. A. NOVICK 2,028,163

' PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR -MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11, 1930 14 Sheets-Sheet l5 I INVENICR I77 Abra/7am Nay/ck.

.4 ITORNEYs .Jan. 21, 1936; A. NowcK 2,028,163

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CUPS Original Filed Jan. 11; 1950' 14 Sheets-sheaf, 14

INVENTEOVR Abra/2am lvor/clr. BY ZWWM ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 21. 1936] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FACTURING PAPER .0

FOR MANU- UPS assignor to Springfield,

Mass., a corporation of Maine Application January 11, 1930,

Renewed June 20,

52 Claim S.

The preferred form of cup with the manufac- 5 ture of which the present invention is concerned, is substantially conical in shape and has a linear or wedge-like closure at the bottom thereof in place of the pointed closures in the conical cups of the prior art. The sides of the cup are uncreased, the only crease appearing in the cup being in the formation of the linear or wedge-' like closure for the cup. The cups may therefore be nested for packaging or for dispensing and the material consumed in the manufacture of the cup is reduced to a minimum. The process ofmanufacturing the cup and the apparatus used in the manufacture of the cup are shown in the drawings in their preferred form and are described hereinafter, with specific reference to such drawings.

The various novel features of the invention are recited in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the finished cup, as made by the form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate diagrammatically the processfor the manufacture of the cup of Fig. 1 and show the successive steps involved in the manufacture of the said cup.

Figs. 6 to16 inclusive are diagrammatic showings of the various steps involved in the manufacture of the said'cup and each includes a diaiii such steps. More detailed descriptions of these steps and the apparatus will appear hereinafter.

17 is a side view of the machine in its preferred embodiment. Fig. 18 is an end view of a portion of the machine of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a detail of the mechanism for moving the transfer table.

Fig. 20 is a detailed plan view of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of a portion of the machine illush'ating the transfer table and its relation to the remainder of the apparatus.

Fig. 22 is a plan view of the machine immediately below the transfer table. I

. Fig. 23 is a. vertical sectional. view of the machine at its foldilg station prior to the operationof th'eIemale former i Fig. 24 is a side the folding station.

Fig. 25 is a transverse sectional view, taken on taken grammatic showing of the apparatus involved in elevation of the apparatus at Serial No. 420,127

the line 25-25 of Fig. 2'7, illustrating the operation of the female former.

Fig. 26 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus at the folding station illustrating the folding over operation. 5

Fig. 27 shows the apparatus-in the process of forming-the end closure. Fig. 28 is a longitudinal transverse sectional view of the presser foot.

Fig. 29 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 30 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 30-30 of Fig. 28.

Fig. 31 is a transverse sectional view of the portion of the presser. foot taken on line ill-3| of Fig. 28. H 15 Fig. 32 illustrates the operation of the ejecting mechanism.

Fig. 33 shows a detailed construction of the conveyor mechanism.

Fig. 34 is a transverse sectional view of the 20 conveyor mechanism taken on the line "-34 of Fig. 33.

Fig. 35 is a detailed view of the nesting device.

The invention will now be described with reference to the form of embodiment illustrated in 25 The The process involved in the manufacture of this cup is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 2, 3,

' 4, and 5. The blank used for the manufacture of this cup is substantially in the form of a sec- 40 tor as shown at 40,- the apex of the sector being cut out in such a manner as to provide a tab 4|.

' All the operations for'forming the cup take place while the blank is in one position, atthe folding station of the apparatus, and all these operations 5 take place about the male former, illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2 and indicated by the reference character .42. .Prior to the transfer of the blank to the folding station of the machine an adhesive, such as glue or paste or the like, is applied to the blank in the blocked in portions .43

' or II. The process as well as the machine disclosed herein is adapted for operation upon blanks of various sizes so as to make smaller or larger cups as desired. The broken line 45, shown v in- Fig. 2, illustrates a smaller size blank and the broken line 46 shows the outer end of the gummed area 48 when a smaller blank is operated upon.

Briefly, the process. for making the cup of Fig.

I 1 involves the step of folding over the side porblank to adhere to .the side portions 41 and 48.

Fig. 3 shows the blank after this folding over has been completed; The broken line 50 shows the line along which the end closure is formed. The next step, therefore, involves merely the folding over of the end portion of the blank along the line 50 and the exposed gummed area 44 seals the end closure. The cup is then in'the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5. When this cup is stripped from the former '42 shown in Fig. 1.

The process and related apparatus The abovedescription outlines the processfor the manufacture of the cup of Fig. 1, which is independent of any apparatus. A description of the process as related. to the machine disclosed herein will now be. given. This is clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 to 16 inclusive, these figures showing only those which are-directly concerned in the step" being illustrated.

Fig. 6 shows the blank 40 at its folding station, it being provided with the gummed areas 43'and 44 and resting against the stops and 52.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the related apparatus with the blank in position ready to be operated on for the formation of a cup. The blank 40 is disposed immediately below the male former 42,

which is wedge-like in shape having a rather sharp end 53 but having rounded side edges as will appear from an inspection of Figs. and 11. In this position the blank 48 is somewhat spaced from the bottom of the former 42. Before the folding operation may proceed .the grippers 54 only. one of which is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, rise from the positionshown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8, thereby pressing the blank against the bottom of the former 42. -As the operation of the machine proceeds the female former 55 which is pivoted at 55a is moved from the position shown in Fig. '2 to that shown in Fig. 9. This former 55 is shaped to cooperate with the lateral edges of the male former 42 in the manner'shown in Figs. 10 and 11. As a result of this operation the side portions 4'! and 48,

of the blank assume vertical positions as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

As the operation of the machine proceeds, the

side folders, diagrammatically illustrated by 56 I and 51, operate to bring the side portions 41 and 48 respectively, from the position shown in Fig. 10 to thatshown in Fig. 11. The operations of the side folders 56 and 51 overlap so that 41 assumes the horizontal position just prior to the completion'of the operation of the folder 51.

The next operation involves forming the end closure which involves the cooperation of two elements which are properly timed in their operation to form the crease along the line 56, the edge 53 of the former 42 cooperating with the creaser 58 and the end folder 59. The creaser 58 which is in a position removed from the former it assumes the shape portionsof the apparatus.

.takes place.

brought into the position shown in Fig. 12. The

end folder 59 is also moved from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 12. The cooperation of the creaser 58 and the end folder 59 serves to form the transverse crease along the line 50 which appears in Fig. 3 of the drawings. After the completion of this operation the creaser 58 is -again removed to its normal positioniand the end folder 59 is moved over to the position shown in Fig. 13, which folds over the end of the blank onto the main body portion as shown in Fig. 13.

The gummed areas 43 and 44 being moist all through these operations, they serve to seal the cup; the exposed area of the gummed area 44, readily observable in Fig. 4, serving to seal the end closure of the cup. In order to more effectually seal the cup. at presser foot 60 is now lowered to the position shown in Fig. 13, which has a. resilient pressing engagement with the sealing portions of the cup. This serves to complete the sealing of the cup and when the presser foot 60 is removed to its normal position the formed cup remains on the former 42, as is shown in Fig. 14.-

Before stripper 6| comes into operation to remove the formed cup from the former 42, all of the operating elementswhich entered into the formation of the cup thus far described and which 'are still in their operative positions, are moved back to their inoperative positions. 0 This applies particularly to the gripper fingers 54, the female former 55, the side folders 56, 51, and the closure former 59. The gripper fingers 54 and the female former 55 are moved back to the position shown in Fig. 7; the side folders 56 and 51 are moved back to the position shown in Fig. 10; and the end closure former 59 is moved back to the position shown in Fig. 7, the creaser 58 having previously been moved back to its normal position: the sealer foot 68 is also moved back to its normal position. This leaves the formed cup on the former 42 without any other portions of the apparatus holding the same in that position and .the cup is now ready to be stripped from the former by the operation of the stripper 6|.

The stripper, 6| now comes into operation by moving from its normal position to that shown in Fig. 14 so as to press the cup against the former, this operation of the stripper 6i being followed by a movement in the direction of the end of the former 42, as is shown in Fig. 15. This operation of the strlppeijjil from the former 42 and to feed thee cup to a pair of conveyor belts 62 and Fig. 16, the conveyor belts 62 and 63 are comparatively narrow sothat the'cup is gripped between the conveyors only along mediate portion thereof with the result that no creasing of the main b dy portion of the cup The formed cups are delivered by the conveyors to a table 64 and when these cups are released by the conveyors they spring into the form shown in Fig. 1. These cups are therefore fed into each other and are nested,'a device 65 being'operated intermittently to move the stack of cups to the right so that they do not interfere with the -fur-' ther feeding of the cups by the conveyors.

Having described "the process of manufacturing the cup of Fig. 1 and having described the illus trative apparatus'in-brief outlines, various specific. 75

details of the machine will next be described.

.serves to strip the cup.

63. As will be seen from a longitudinal inter The machine described briefly.

.the timely operation of the various portions of the apparatus are disposed below the table 66 and are not shown herein, these means being common in the art and readily understood by those skilled in the art. In the operation of each portion of. the apparatus a power transmitting link is operated by the power and cam means. A frame 68 in the form of an inverted U is part of the frame structure of the machine and in a sense serves to separate the blank gumming and feeding station A from the folding station B.

While the apparatus relating to each of the steps described in connection with the description of Figs. 6 to 16 hereinabove will be described .in greater detail hereinafter by reference to various figures of the drawings, the relationship and arrangement of these parts will be readily appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 1'7, where the same reference characters that appear in Figs. 6 to 16 inclusive areshown applied to the corresponding operating elements.

Blank gumming and feeding apparatus Referring to Fig. 1'7 and to the left hand end of that figure the platform 69 supports a stack of blanks I0. This platform is preferably elevated periodically so as to maintain the top of the are not shownherein for the reason that such devices arecommon in the art. The gummer II is reciprocated vertically by means of the plunger I2; the'power being transmitted to the plunger I2 from thejpower and cam means by means of the link I3. the bell-crank lever I4, pivoted at I to the plate I8 carried by the frame member 68; and a link I] pivotally connected to the free end 4 of the bell-crank lever 14 and to the plunger I2. It will be seen, therefore, that a reciprocation at the link I3 will bring about a vertical reciprocation of the plunger I2 in the guide arms "I8 of the plate I6, and that with the reciprocation of the through corresponding apertures in the stripper plate 8| and is pressed down upon the topmost blank. On its return, or upward movement, the gummer II carries the topmost blank with it. Just before the blank strikes or reaches the bottom of the stripper plate 8| the motion of the gummer and plunger I2 is arrested temporarily so as to give the transfer table, whose operation is simultaneous with the operation of the plunger I2, an opportunity to come into position immediately below the blank. The plunger I2 then proceeds and completes its upward movement, the blank striking the bottom of the stripper plate 8l which releases the blank from the gummer 'II- and deposits the same on the transfer table. The transfer table then completes its movement to bring the blank to the folding station 13.

' The transfer table or plate 82 is best shown. in Fig. 21. It consists of a plate which is approximately the shape of the blank and is provided with cut out portions 83 to permit the female lines in Fig. 21. Slots 85 are also provided in the stack at the desired level to co-operate with the transfer plate 82 which permit the plate to pass 7 under the stripper plate 8i and free the backstop fingers 86, which are associated with the stripper plate 8 I The transfer table is also provided with upstanding fingers 81 which engage the rear edge of the blank on the return movement of the transfer plate.

The transfer plate is carried by a pair of bars 88 which move longitudinally in guide rails 89.

The bars 88 are L-shaped, as will be seen in Figs..

26 and 34, the foot of the l. resting inthe rail 89,and the rail 89 which is disposed over the foot bars 88.

i In order to provide for of the L of the the operation of this machine on blanks of difierent sizes so as to make plunger I2 the gummerII will be moved to and from the top of the stack of blanks Ill. Inorder to prevent any possible rotation of the plunger 12 the laterally extending arm I9, fixedly carried by the plunger I2, engages at its free end withthe guide as shown.

When the plunger I2 and its associated gummer II are in their uppermost position, gum-is applied to the gumming face by means of a transversely reciprocating roller, not shown. The gumming face of the gummer II is'so designed that gum will be applied to the topmost blank in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The specific size and shape of the gummer II depends upon the size of blank operated on and uponthe size of cup that is being made, for as has been explained-hereinabove, a smaller cup needs a smaller gummed area 43.

After the gum hasbeen applied to the gummer II inyits uppermost position, the plunger 1! is moved so that the gummer-1| passes cups of different sizes, the limit of the return of the transfer table may be adjusted by means of the; screws 9i, Figs. 19, 20, and'33, which are carried by the upturned ends of the bars 92. The rruts 93 serve to lock the screws 9! in position.

The operating means for the transfer table and the slide bars 88 may be observed in Figs. 17, 1 9, and20. The frame 61 is-provided with bearings Mwhich support the rock-shaft 95. The lever 96 is clamped onto one end of the rock-shaft 95 and is rocked by the link 91. The connection between the link 91 and thelever 93 is adjustable,

as shown in Fig; '19, the lever 96 being provided threaded pin 99 on with a slot 98 to receive the the link 81, the nut I88 serving to hold this con nection in 'the adjusted position. This adjustment is for the purpose of permitting the transmission of a rocking action to the rock shaft 95 through a variable angle which must be adjusted for every size of blank or cut. A pair of levers IBI are fastened one at each end of the rockshaft -95 so that these levers rock with the shaft.

The links I02 formed as shown in Fig. 20 are pivotallyconnected to the free end of 18 I preferably by means of a slot and pin engagement as shown in Fig. 19. The other ends of levers I82 are pivotally connectedto upri h l83'which are integral with the slide bars a. In 0rd a;

also carrying a guide plate 98 shown in Fig. 26 to the broken line position shown therein and free ofthe guide rails 89.

These levers are operated by the links I39 and I40, respectively, the power and cam means for operating these links being omitted for'the sake of clarity. The operation-of the lever I35 slightly precedes the operation of the lever I35 so that this lever completes its movement substantially before the completion of the movement of the lever I35, the result being that the side portion '41 of the blank reaches its folded position over the former 42 prior to the completion that shown in Fig. end folder-59 overlaps- 'of the folding'of the side portion 48. In this way the side portion 48 is made to overlap the side portion 41 and the gummecl area 43 forms the seal between these two portions of the blank.

'It will be seen that at the same time a portion of the gummed area 44 causes the sealing of the lower ends of the side portions 41 and 4B of the blank against the gummed area 44, thereby assisting in the eifective sealing of the end closure of the cup.

The operation of the end closure apparatus After the completion of the side folding operation the end closure apparatus comes into play so as to forma crease along the line shown in Fig. 3 and to fold over the end of the cup onto the main body portion thereof and to cause the exposed portion of the gummed area 44 to seal the end closure. a

The creaser 5B is formed as shown in Figs. 17, 23, 24, 26, and 27. This creaser'is carried by a rock-shaft I4I, which passes through the bearing I42 carried by the bracket. I08;

The rock-shaft I4I isdisposed angularly and is disposed in such a manner that in its normal position as shown in Figs. 17, 23, 24, and 26, it does not interfere with the operation of any of the remaining apparatus. When the operation of the side folders 56 and 51. has

shaft MI is rocked so that the creaser 58 is made to occupy the position shown in Fig. 27 where it. engages the blank along the line 50 which is substantially coincident with the edge 53 of the former 42. The end folder 59 is then moved from the position shown in Fig. 23 to the position shown in Fig. 27. With the assistance of the creaser. 58 the end portion of the folded blank is thereby made to assume the dotted line vertical position shown in Fig. 27. This at the same time causes a sharp break along the line 50. This movement of the end folder which involves both an upward movement whereby it engages the end portion of the blank and. moves it upward and a rearward movement toformer 42. When the end the rock-shaft I4I of the creaser 58 is moved in the reverse direction so that the creaser 58 is again. free from engagement withthe blank. This isfollowed by a movement of the end-folder 59 from the ,position shown in Figs. .12 and 27 to the former 42 and causes the end of the blank to assume the position shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

The mechanism for subiecting the end folder 59 to the compound movement described above,

can best be observed in Figs. 21 to 24, inclusive,

Figs. 21 'and'22 showing this apparatus in plan and Figs.'23 and 24 showing it in side view through diiferentplanes.

The rock-shaft I44'carriesthe H-shaped mom;

ber I45, the same being loosely carried onthe' been completed the 59 is a compound movement 13, wherein the lip I43 of the rock-shaft I44. I45 support the shaft I46, which in turn carries the end folder 59, the same being free to rotate thereon. A link I46ais connected to the shaft I46 by which the member I45 may be swung about I the shaft I44 to raise and lower the folder 59. The end'folder 59 isprovided with an integral fork 141 which carries the pin I48 and which in turn supports one end of a link I49, the other end of the link being pivoted to the arms I50 secured to the shaft I44.

Either simultaneously shaft i4I to bring the creaser into position approximately coincident with the end' of the former 42, or some short interval prior to the time that the creaser 58 has reached its operative position, an upward movement is applied to the folder 59 through the link I48a. The shaft I44 is also rocked by arm I5I through link I52 to swing the arms I59 in acounter clockwise direction. These motions are transmitted'to the end folder 59 by link I49 and are converted into a combined upward and forward movement of the end folder 12 and 27. The upward movement of the folder The other ends of the member with the operation of the 59 is obtained from the upward movement of" the member I; its forward movement is the result of the coaction of the elements I41 and 149, which increases the distance between the arm I50 and the folder 59. After the completion of this movement of the folder 59 and after the creaser 58 has moved from the position shown in Fig. 27 to its'normal position, the folder 59 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 27 to that shown in Fig. 13-, where the lip I43.overlies the end of the former 42 .and folds the end of the blank onto themain body portion of the blank. This is accomplished by a short downward movement of the link I52 which rocks the shaft I44 in a counter clockwise direction and the desired movement is imparted to the folder 59 through I area 44 to hold the end closure in position.

- I The operation of the presser foot nfter'the completion of the operations described immediately above the cup is fully formed on the former but before stripped from the former, the sealing of the cup must be completed more effectively. This is ac-.

complished by bringing into operation the presser foot 50. The construction of the presserfoot will bereadily understood from an inspection of Figs. 28 to 31 inclusive. The plunger I53 carries the main body member portion I55 and the heel portion I56; the portion I55 being so disposed that it presses down upon that portion-of the blank that is approximately coincident with the gummed area 43, while the heel portion I55 presses down upon that portion of the blank which is approximately coincident with the gummed area 44, in the completed cup. The portion I55 is provided with flanges I51, the main body portion I54 being provided with guideways to receive'said flanges. serted in recesses in the foot I55,,these springs providing a certain amount of resiliency to the pressing action of the foot I55. A screw I59 passes through an opening in the main body portion I54 to hold the foot I55 against any 1on gitudinal movement, at the sametime permitting a certain amount of up and down movement.

the end of the blank onto I Springs I58 are init is complete and ready to be I54 which supports the foot passes through the bearing in'the bracket I08 which is carried by the frame member 68 and also passes through a bearing in the guide arm I64 which is integral with the plate 16. Motion is transmitted to the plunger I53 by means of the operating link I65 and the linkages I66, I61, and I68, which are fixed to plate 16 at I69. It will be seen that an upward movement of the link I65 will move the plunger I 53 upwardly and a downward movement of the same will move the plunger I56 downwardly so as to,bring abouta pressing engagement between 60 and the cup, as shown in Figs. 13 and 27.

In order to prevent any possible rotation of the plunger I53 a free end of the arm I10 carried thereby is guided by the guide plate "I.

It will be seen therefore, that after the .end closure folder 59 has completed its operation in such a manner that the lip I43 has moved the end closure to its end position the operating link I65 is moved downward so as to bring the presser 66 into engagement with the formed cup (Fig. 13) and thereby bring about a more efiective sealing bf the gummed areas.

' I13, and I15, the free ends of and against the cup that is on the position;

the side folders 56 and 51 back to n The stripping operation After the completion of the operations above described all of the operating elements thus far' described are moved to their normal positions so as to leave the completed cup free to be stripped to be ejected therefrom from the former 62 and and transferred to the conveyor belts 62, 63.

For this purpose the operating link I 65 is operated to move the presser foot 60 to its normal the arm I! is moved to bring theend closure folder 59 back to its normal position; the operating links I39 and I40 are operated to bring their normal positions; and the operating link I29 is operated to bring the female former 55 and the gripper fingers 54 back to their normal positions.

The cup in its completed form still being held on the former 62 is now ready for and ejecting operation.

The ejector 6| whose construction and operation can best be understoodby reference to Figs. 2 23, and 32, is provided with a cork or rubber tip, and is operated by the linkage system I12, the links I12 and I16 being pivoted to the ejector 6| at the points I15 and I16. The operating endof the stripper 6I is normally disposed below the blank 40 and out of contact therewith. In order to perform the stripping and ejecting operation the stripper 6i is first raised about the point I15 until its cork tip presses against the bottom of the former 82 former. This operation is followed by a forward movement of the stripper 6i so that the frictional engagement of its rubber tip strips the cup from the former 62 and leads its closed end towards the conveyor belts 62, 63. n

For the first part of this operation, namely, for the operation of raising the operating end of the stripper 6| into frictional engagement with the cup on the former 42, the operating link I11 is the stripping thereby imparts a forward movement to forked arm I12 and consequently the linkage system is moved into the position shown in Fig. 32, the stripper 6| having moved forwardly so that the cup is stripped from the former 42 and transferred to the conveyors 62, 63, which complete the removal of the cup 40 from the former 42 and transfer the same onto the table 64, this table being provided with a pair of side guards I63.

The conveyor system The conveyor system is best shown in Figs. 18, 20, and 33 and comprises a pair of cooperating endless conveyor belts 62, 63, which travel over the guide rolls I Bland I82, respectively, at one end, power being applied to the driven rolls I8I and I62 at the other end by gears I63 and I88; these being driven by the gear I85, power being transmitted to the same by means of the sprocket chain I 86.

The belts 62 and 63 are narrow compared with the width of the cup and are preferably even somewhat narrower than the linear closure of the cup. The cup is therefore conveyed between the belts 62 and 63 in the form shown in Fig. 16 so that no creasing of any sort takes place in the sides of the cup.

The guide roll I8I is mounted between a pair- I92. The pair of plates I85 is further provided with a series of openings I81, braces I88 being carried on the outside of said plates for supporting the pressure rolls I89, which are pressed down against the conveyor belt 62 by means of the spring I96.

' In order to provide a firm but resilient engagement between the conveyor belts 62 and 63 at the point where the cup "enters the same, the roller I82 is preferably carried by the lever I9I which is pivoted to the frame member I86 at I92. The free end of the lever |I9I is drawn downwardly by the spring I96.

The pair of plates I85 also serves to clamp between them the extended foot 200 which is integral with the bracket I62 and is clamped between the plates I85 by means of a series of bolts 2M. This construction may be observed in Figs. 33 and 34. It will be seen, therefore, that the brackets I86 and I62 which are carried by the frame member 66, form together with the above mentioned extension of I62, namely, the extended foot 286, a frame that spans the folding station B.

The conveyor 62 also passes over a roller 262, which may be adjusted in any position in slots 203 of the side plates I85 for the purpose of taking up the slack in the conveyor. A similar roller 266 is provided in connection with the conveyor 63, the roller being slidable in slot 205 of the lower plate I86. By referring to Fig. 34, it will be observed that the plate I86 is provided with a base 206 which gives firm support to the conveyor 63, this base being supported on the bed plate 66. 

